WINTER NEWSLETTER 2017 Table of Contents CCJ Editorial …………………..……………………………………………………………………………….…………………………..2 Ballyhale’s Main Street Project ……………………………………………………………………………………….………..3-4 Waterford Social Enterprise Research Project 2017 ……………………………………………………………………..5 Ireland’s First Social Enterprise Toolkit Launched ……………………………………………………………………6-7 An Cosán …………………..…………………………………………………………………………………………………………….7-8 Clann Credo Launches €10m Community Sports Loan Fund …………………………………………………………9 Community Radio Gets the Community Talking …………………………………………………………….……..10-11 Social Innovation Fund Ireland …………………………………………………………………………………………....12-13 Community Finance Ireland Bolster Role with €100 Million Fund for Community Organisations ...14 Social Entrepreneurs Ireland - Winners of Nationwide Competition Announced …………………...15-17 Waterford One World Centre ……………………………………………………………………………………….………...….17 Clann Credo Lauded in OECD Report on Social Enterprise ……………………………………………………...….18 U-Casadh ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..…..19-21 Community Finance Ireland to Provide Another First for UCIT Group on the Island …………………….22 Ireland’s Ancient Feast …………………………………………………………………………………………………….….23-24 Editorial Another year coming to an end with the Christmas celebration. Progress was made in the social en- terprise sector in 2017. A year long study was completed in Waterford city and county by Dunhill Rural Enterprises in partnership with Waterford SICAP and Social Finance Foundation. The final report by Seamus Goggin is short but the findings are interesting and well worth reading. The report can be accessed at www.ccj.ie. A second study involving Waterford, Cavan and Ballyhoura Leader Partnership was also completed and written by the Social Finance Foundation and can be accessed from www.ccj.ie. A report on the process involved in the research was written by CCJ Chairman and accessed from www.ccj.ie. There is interesting information on how voluntary teams and projects classify themselves and all the confusion that lies at the heart of social enterprise definition in particular on the issue of trading. It is clear that the department study is urgently need- ed to define and co-ordinate the resources linked to the sector and to get many social enterprises off the ground. The Department of Rural & Community Development in partnership with Social Finance Foundation have held their workshops and completed their online survey. Outcomes are awaited with anticipation. Once the analysis is completed the new policy and 10 year social enterprise strategy will be launched by end of first quarter, 2018. That event will herald a major change in status for social enterprise in the country. We all look forward in anticipation to promoting social enterprise as a legitimate economic concept in the future with many supports organised to support its development. Happy Christmas and a Peaceful and Prosperous New Year. Senan Cooke, Chairman, CCJ. 2 Ballyhale’s Main Street Project Ballyhale, South Kilkenny is famous for its outstanding hurlers. In 2015 it formed a local development group to complete a new hospitality project, Billy’s Tearooms and Shop, on Main Street. The parish of Knockmoy- lan, Ballyhale, and Knocktopher (KBK) is renowned as a famous hurling nursery in GAA club history. Cur- rent stars include TJ & Richie Reid, Michael & Colin Fennelly and Joey Holden. It is home to recently retired Henry Shefflin winner of 10 All-Ireland medals and rated among the greatest players ever to have played the game is from the parish. Ballyhale Shamrocks built its hurling reputation on skill, craft, teamwork and team spirit. The parish is home to the captains of 9 Kilkenny All-Ireland winning teams. Jimmy Walsh 1932 &1939 and Liam Fennelly 1991 &1992 each captained two winning teams. The parish has accumulated over 100 All- Ireland senior medals, 15 county senior championships and 5 All-Ireland club championships. This renowned spirit permeates many aspects of community life. Ballyhale in the early years of the new century was bypassed by the N9 motorway. During recent financial crisis 2008-2017 it witnessed the closure of 5 shops, 3 pubs, the post office and numerous local businesses. In 2015 the community decided something needed to be done to revitalise the area. A committee researched the feasibility of opening a Tea Rooms and Shop, run by the community for benefit of community. The team iden- tified a suitable building on Main Street which was a protected structure and owned by the County Council. Top Right Martin Holden Back Row Pat Bookle, John Kenneally, Brian Murphy, David Murphy, Richard Kenneally. Front Row Janet Ging, Noreen Murphy, Noeleen Hearne, Helena Cody Mark Aylward, TJ Reid and Joey Holden Henry Shefflin 3 A first step for the project team was to visit a similar development in Loughmore, Co Tipperary. Mary Fogarty and friend opened a tearooms and craft shop in 2011 which was hugely successful. It generated interest in a new wave of developments in her area. Mary explained the steps in the process she had fol- lowed through to conclusion. This information was very beneficial to the Ballyhale group who were encouraged by what they had seen and heard to forge ahead with their plans. The new development project was registered as KBK Co-operative Shop Society Ltd. A voluntary board of 10 directors was appointed. The community was offered and accepted a 99 year lease at €1 per week by County Council. The Council commits to supporting communities that demonstrate a will- ingness to provide services and facilities in their local area. The council and councillors rowed in be- hind the proposed project from the very first meeting. Kilkenny Co Council, Heritage Council and Leader Partnership Board were extremely helpful. They provided plenty of encouragement and advice on acquiring the building, on restoration works, planning requirements, business plan, eligible grants and fitting out of premises. The cost of the project amounts to €145,000. The board was encouraged by Leader to demonstrate an ability to raise funds locally. Ten successful fundraisers were held over past two years. Support for the project has exceeded their expectations and the local fund raising and grants are covering projected costs. Further work will take place once the shop is opened, it will be covered by more fundraising, grants and loans in due course. The board is currently preparing a community co-op share scheme offer at €25 per share to circulate among the 500 homes in the parish. Share owners will be registered as Co-op members and will have voting rights for AGM. Loan funding was secured from Community Finance Ireland. A conservation architect was employed to produce a report for Conservation and Heritage Departments of Co Council prior to making a planning application which was duly granted in August 2016. Conservation works began in August 2017. Reno- vation of the building is currently underway with targeted completion and opening date, March 2018. On Friday, 17th November an information meeting was held in local parish hall which attracted a large and enthusiastic attendance that pleased the board members. There is a sense of renewal and belief in the community that a commercial renaissance is about to take place. Ballyhale Shamrocks GAA is planning a major development at their grounds which is about 100 me- tres up the street from the tea rooms & shop. The regeneration of every community begins with the first step and Billy’s Tea Rooms is the first step for KBK. It will instil confidence among other community groups and private individuals to consider the other enterprise options that are open to them. Every community in the county will be interested to see how the project fares and they will be encouraged by it. Mary Fogarty, Loughmore is one fine example of how voluntary communities are eager to collaborate with each other on their development plans. Communities Creating Jobs is a voluntary national shared learning network that shares ideas, solutions, best practices and replications freely within its network. Its website www.ccj.ie and quarterly newsletter has interesting information for voluntary community groups and agency staff. Contact Seamus at [email protected] Ballyhale is making a statement of intent with its bold entry into the commercial sector. It is indicating an intention to protect the social and economic cohesion of the community. There is no limit to what can be achieved by communities and state agencies working together on agreed development objec- tives. 4 Waterford Social Enterprise Research Project 2017 The Social Finance Foundation (SFF) of Ireland visited DFBA (Dunhill, Fenor, Boatstrand, Annestown) in June 2016 with a view to considering a research study into the social enterprise sector here in Waterford. Sub- sequent to this site visit SFF contracted Dunhill Rural Enterprises Ltd (DREL) to conduct research in social enterprise in Waterford City and County over a 12 month period. The initial research commenced in October 2016 and by March 2017 270 potential social enterprises were identified and then contacted by email and asked to complete an online survey monkey questionnaire. An ad- ditional 55 potential social enterprises were contacted by the local PPN coordinator. The local PPN also facil- itated us at their district meetings in promoting the research study and its purpose. Despite many difficulties we finally achieved 168 completed responses (equates to a response rate of 51.69%) which is much greater than the normal response rate to similar online surveys. In tandem with our research in Waterford, Cavan and the Ballyhoura region (East Limerick and North Cork) engaged in a similar study under the management of the SFF. The collective research findings are now part of the strategy for the development of a national 10 year plan for social enterprise here in Ireland between the SFF and DRCD (Department of Rural and Community Development). The DRCD and the SFF hosted workshops in Athlone, Cork and Dublin in early November and social enter- prises from all around the country were invited to attend. All in attendance were asked to fully participate in discussions as to how best to implement the process.